How to Use Filter in Protected Excel Sheet (With Easy Steps)

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This article illustrates how you can allow people to use filter in your protected Excel sheet. You may need to do this to create a user-friendly worksheet while needing to protect it from unnecessary changes by them. The following picture highlights the purpose of this article. Have a quick look through it to learn how to do that.

Table of Contents hide

How to Use Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

Steps to Allow Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

📌 STEP 1: Select the Dataset

📌 STEP 2: Apply Filter

📌 STEP 3: Notice the Filter Button

📌 STEP 4: Protect the Worksheet

📌 STEP 5: Allow Users to Use Filter

📌 STEP 6: Check If the Sheet Is Protected

📌 STEP 7: Use Filter in the Protected Sheet

📌 STEP 8: See the Filtered Data

Things to Remember

Conclusion

How to Use Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

Imagine you have a dataset containing a list of cheeses with categories. You want people to be able to filter the list but not to make any changes to the data. Then follow the steps below.

Steps to Allow Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

📌 STEP 1: Select the Dataset

First, select the range of data (C4:C36) that you want to allow users to filter.

📌 STEP 2: Apply Filter

Then, select Data >> Filter as shown in the following picture.

📌 STEP 3: Notice the Filter Button

After that, you will see a small downward arrow at the bottom-right corner of cell C4. This will allow your users to filter the dataset by category.

📌 STEP 4: Protect the Worksheet

Next, select Review >> Protect Sheet as shown below.

📌 STEP 5: Allow Users to Use Filter

Then enter a password in the Protect Sheet window if you want to make it password-protected. Otherwise, you can leave it empty.
Next, uncheck Select locked cells.
Then, check Use AutoFilter.
After that, select OK.

📌 STEP 6: Check If the Sheet Is Protected

Now whenever the users will try to make any changes to your worksheet, they will see the following error.

📌 STEP 7: Use Filter in the Protected Sheet

But, they can easily filter the data by category. You can add Filter or use a shortcut instead. Let’s say, one of the users wanted to filter the Cream Cheeses.

📌 STEP 8: See the Filtered Data

Then, s/he will see the following result.👇

Things to Remember

You must use a password to actually protect the sheet. Otherwise, the users can just select Unprotect Sheet and make changes to it.
You can check Sort in the Protect Sheet window if you want to allow them to sort the dataset too.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from the download button below.

Filtering in Protected Worksheet.xlsx

Conclusion

Now you know how to allow people to use filter in a protected Excel sheet. Please let us know if this article has helped you to solve your problem. You can also use the comment section below for further queries or suggestions. Stay with us and keep learning.

2 Comments

NancyM Mar 17, 2023 at 7:24 PM

This was exactly the solution I needed, and you explained it very clearly. Thank you!
- Reply
  Shamima Sultana Mar 20, 2023 at 3:36 PM
  
  Dear NancyM,
  
  Thanks for your appreciation. To get solutions with detailed explanations, follow ExcelDemy.
  
  Regards
  Shamima Sultana
  Project Manager | ExcelDemy

How to Use Filter in Protected Excel Sheet (With Easy Steps)

How to Use Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

Steps to Allow Filter in Protected Excel Sheet

📌 STEP 1: Select the Dataset

📌 STEP 2: Apply Filter

📌 STEP 3: Notice the Filter Button

📌 STEP 4: Protect the Worksheet

📌 STEP 5: Allow Users to Use Filter

📌 STEP 6: Check If the Sheet Is Protected

📌 STEP 7: Use Filter in the Protected Sheet

📌 STEP 8: See the Filtered Data

Things to Remember

Conclusion

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